Heat & Air Terminology

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AFUE: Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
Indicated as a percentage, AFUE measures the heating efficiency of a gas furnace by indicating how much energy is being converted to heat, the higher the efficiency. For example, a 90% AFUE means that 90% of the fuel is being converted to heat, while the other 10% is unused and escapes as exhaust with the combustion gases. An 80% AFUE means that 80% of the fuel is being converted to heat, while the other 20% is unused and escapes as exhaust with the combustion gases.

BTU: British Thermal Unit
Used for both heating and cooling, BTU is a measure of the heat given off when fuel is combusted. One BTU is equal to the heat given off by a wooden kitchen match.

Capacity
The ability of a heating or cooling system to heat or cool a given amount of space. For heating, this is usually expressed in BTU’s. For cooling, it is usually given in tons.

ComfortHeat™ Technology
Refers to heating technology when combining a two-stage or variable speed furnace with an Infinity or Thermidistat Control. Two-stage heating keeps the temperature closer to the thermostat’s setting for more even, consistent comfort.

ComfortHeat™ Heat Pump System
A ComfortHeat Heat Pump System includes a variable speed fan coil, Infinity or Thermidistat Control and Carrier heat pump. This system eliminates the “cold blow’ often associated with heat pumps because this system provides air supply temperatures up to 20 degrees warmer than standard heat pumps.

Compressor
The component of the heat pump or air conditioner that controls the pressure applied to the refrigerant, necessary for taking in heat to warm your home or getting rid of heat to keep your home cool.

Condenser Coil
Part of an air conditioner or heat pump. By converting refrigerant that is in a gas form back to a liquid, the coils sends heat carried by the refrigerant to the outside.

Continuous Fan
Refers to the operation of the fan (or blower) in a furnace of fan coil. For optimum comfort and air quality, fans should operate continually, even when not heating or cooling. With variable speed systems, continuous fan operation typically costs less than $30 per year.

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Damper
A type of “valve” used in ductwork that opens or closes to contril airflow. Used in zoning to control the amount of warm or cold air entering predetermined areas of your home.

Electronic Air Cleaner (EAC)
An electronic device that filters out large airborne particles and contaminants in indoor air. It then electronically pulls out tiny airborne particles, such as viruses and bacteria that have been magnetically charged, drawing them to a collector plate.

Electrostatic Filter
This filter uses the natural occurrence of static electricity as its filtering mechanism. This is a washable filter that will last for many years.

Evaporator Coil (Also called an Indoor Coil)
Part of the cooling system located directly in the fan coil or as a separate component when matched with a gas furnace. The evaporator coil cools and dehumidifies the air by converting liquid refrigerant into a gas, which absorbs the heat from the air. The warm refrigerant is then carried through a tube to the outdoor unit (condenser coil).

Extended Warranty
A warranty program that a dealer can purchase from the manufacturer that extends the standard parts and / or labor warranty.

Fan Coil (Also called an Air Handler)
The indoor component of a comfort system (used in place of a furnace.) Includes the evaporator coil for cooling, electric heating elements and a blower motor for distributing heated and cooled air to you home. When used with a heat pump, it provides back-up heating on very cold days when the heat pump does not provide adequate heating.

Freon Refrigerant (R-22)
Freon Refrigerant (R-22) has been used in HVAC systems for more than 30 years. Freon Refrigerant (R-22) is being phased out of production and can no longer be used in new equipment as of 2010.

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HVAC
Term used for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

HSPF: Heating Seasonal Performance Factor
This rating is a measure of the heating efficiency of a heat pump. The higher the HSPF number, the more efficiently the heat pump heats your home.

Humidifier
A piece of equipment that adds water vapor to heated air as it moves out of the furnace. This adds necessary moisture to protect your furnishings and reduce static electricity. Carrier humidifiers provide optimum performance when matches with an Infinity or Thermidistat Control.

Hybrid Heat™ System
(Also known as a Duel Fuel Heat Pump System)
A system that offers improved cost savings by automatically switching between gas and electric heating based on local utility rates and heating requirements. The Infinity Control is used to seamlessly integrate a variable speed gas furnace and two-speed heat pump for optimum comfort and savings.

IdealHumidity™ System
Refers to a system that includes a variable speed furnace or fan coil and Infinity or Thermidistat Control. Together, they control both temperature and humidity, removing as much as a half-gallon of water per hour more than standard systems. This is the only system that can remove humidity without a call for cooling and add humidity (with a humidifier) without a call for heating.

Infinity Air Purifier™
Carrier’s premium air filtration solution that not only captures airborne mold spores, bacteria and viruses, but actually kills them as well. Offering as amazing ability to capture airborne particles as small as .01 microns, this product easily outperforms popular portable air cleaners as well as whole home electronic air cleaners. And, it’s simple and convenient to use because it eliminates the need for monthly filter cleaning, just replace the removable media one or two times a year.

Infinity™ Control
An advanced, multifunction interface, the Infinity Control is the cornerstone of the Infinity System and combines six controls in one. This Carrier exclusive helps maintain peak performance and system efficiency.

Infinity System
A fully integrated total system solution, the Infinity System consists of a variable speed furnace or fan coil, an air conditioner or heat pump, and the exclusive Infinity Control. Enhanced comfort is provided by variable speed technology, such as longer heating and cooling cycles for consistent temperature, money-saving energy efficiency and extra-quiet operation.

Labor Warranty
Most dealers provide a one-year labor warranty on all installations. The equipment manufacturer offers extended labor warranties that can be purchased thru the dealer that installed the equipment.

Maintenance Agreement
Regular maintenance is required to keep your heat and air system operating at peak performance. A maintenance agreement covers cleaning and inspecting the system at the start of each heating and cooling season. If your system is no longer covered by a parts and / or labor warranty a maintenance agreement offers discounted service rates. TS Heat & Air also guarantees all maintenance agreement customers service within twenty-four hours.

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Operating Cost
The cost of operating a home comfort system, based on energy use.

Parts Warranty
The parts warranty is provided by the manufacturer of the equipment. Most manufacturers have a standard 5-year parts warranty. The heat exchanger in the furnace normally has at least a 20-year parts warranty. The equipment manufacturer offers extended parts warranties that can be purchased thru the dealer that installed the equipment.

Puron® Refrigerant (R-410A)
Puron refrigerant, the environmentally sound refrigerant, is replacing R-22 (Freon®*). R-22 refrigerant is being phased out of production and can no longer be used in new equipment as of 2010.

SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is a measure of the cooling efficiency of you air conditioner or heat pump. The higher the SEER number, the more efficient the system is at converting electrical energy into cooling.

Setback Thermostat (Also called a Programmable Thermostat)
An electronic thermostat with a built-in memory that can be programmed for different temperature settings at different times of the day.

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Thermidistat™ Control
As an integral part of the IdealHumidity™ system, the Thermidistat controls both temperature and humidity. It can be programmed differently for each day of the week or can be operated as a non-programmable thermostat. It has a large backlit display and a vacation mode for saving energy while away form home. It also indicates when it is time to change or clean your air filter and displays the outdoor temperature.

Thermostat
Unit that monitors and controls a comfort system according to the desired indoor temperature settings.

Ton
A unit of measure for cooling capacity. One ton = 12,000 BTUs per hour.

Two-Speed
Refers to the compressor operation of an air conditioner or heat pump. While typical cooling systems have only one speed (high), two-speed air conditioners or heat pumps can operate at low speed about 75% to 80% of the time, using high speed to quickly reach the temperature and for days with unusually high demand for cooling like a very hot day or when entertaining. Low speed operation typically uses less than half as much energy as high speed.

Two-Stage Furnace
Refers to the ability of the gas valve to provide heating at two different levels based on the outdoor weather. Low-stage heating increases comfort on milder days, while high-stage heating ensures comfort during extreme outdoor weather conditions. Two-stage heating keeps the temperature closer to the thermostat setting for more even, consistent comfort.

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Ultraviolet Light:
The germicidal UV lamp bathes the cooling coil with intense UV-C light, helping to sterilize its surfaces while maximizing system efficiency and protecting the air you breathe. No cleaning is required; simply replace the lamps once a year

Variable Speed
Refers to the operation of the blower motor of a furnace for fan coil. A variable speed furnace or fan coil automatically adjusts the fan speed according to the demand for cooling, heating and humidity control. This system ramps up and down slowly and typically has longer run times at low speed resulting in quieter, more efficient operation and more consistent temperatures.

Zoning
A way to increase home comfort and energy efficiency by individually controlling separate areas of a home according to their unique heating and cooling needs and occupancy. Dampers located inside the ductwork are used to direct airflow to designated areas or “zones” of the home. Each zone is independently controlled by a temperature sensor or thermostat.

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Heat & Air Terminology